Dr. Kathy Murphy Named WCCD President

Dr. Kathy Murphy

On Wednesday, May 14, during its monthly meeting, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees approved Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker’s recommendation to appoint current Gadsden State Community College president Dr. Kathy Murphy as President of Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD).

“We’ve made a decision that I believe will be proven to be a very good decision because we had an applicant that we already know what they can and will do,” said Baker. “Dr. Murphy’s heart, energy, and will to do a good job are second to none.”

Dr. Murphy’s move to WCCD will end a 4-year stint as President at Gadsden State, a role she accepted in January 2021.

“It has been my honor to serve as President at Gadsden State and I will miss our wonderful college, our exceptional faculty and staff, and, of course, our amazing students,” said Dr. Murphy. “During the past four years, we have experienced so many successes and there is so much more to come, and I cannot wait to hear about Gadsden State’s progress and future successes.”

Dr. Murphy will become WCCD’s first permanent president since the retirement of longtime leader Dr. Linda Young, who concluded her 36-year tenure at the college last year.

“Some people go to work every day to their job and others go to their career and I get to go to my calling”, said Murphy. “I appreciate the opportunity and the privilege I have to be a part of the Alabama Community College system, to have had the absolute blessing and pleasure of serving at Gadsden. Now, I warmly embrace and look forward to the opportunity and the privilege that we’ll have to serve alongside the great folks that are already at Wallace-Dothan.”

Before her time at Gadsden, Dr. Murphy served as Superintendent of Hoover City Schools and has an educational background that spans 30-plus years. Prior to her service in Hoover City Schools, she was Superintendent of Monroe County Schools. She served as a principal at Charles Henderson and Greenville high schools and Greenville Middle School, and as a professor at the University of West Georgia and Judson College.

Dr. Murphy obtained both a Doctor of Education in Physical Education (with an Emphasis in Program Administration and Curriculum Development) and a Master of Education in Physical Education from Auburn University, and both a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Auburn University Montgomery. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education from Troy University.

During her tenure at Gadsden, Dr. Murphy was recognized as Troy University’s 2024 Alumni of the Year.

Dr. Murphy’s appointment will be effective beginning June 1, 2025.